Garment-supporting clasp.



PATENTEDJULY 18, 1905.

J. P. ATWOOD. GARMENT SUPPORTING CLASP.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 14. 1905.

l y lm p Yaw l @QOIln-wccL ANDREW B. GRAHAM 60., uTNocRAPHERs, WASHINGTON. n c.

Patented July 18, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES F. ATWVOOD, OF CLAREMONT, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

GARMENT-SUPPORTING CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 794,769, dated. July 18, 1905.

Application filed April 14, 1905. Serial No. 255,563.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES F. A'rwoon, a citizen of the United States, residing in Claremont, in thecounty of Sullivan and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Garment-Supporting Clasps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to clasps for supporting garments or portions thereof,such as hose, underwear, &c.

The invention relates particularly to that class of clasps in which two pivotally-connected jaws are pressed against the opposite sides of the garment to be clasped; and it has for its principal objects to provide plenty of room between the jaws for the fabric, and thereby prevent choking, and to prevent the swinging jaw from shutting over upon instead of under or into the stationary jaw.

The nature of the invention is fully described below and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a front elevation of my improved clasp in a closed position. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the clasp suspended from a tab and provided with a suitable fabric backing. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section of the clasp open. Fig. 4 is a similar section of the clasp closed, with the tab and backing applied to it and engaging a piece of fabric. Fig. 5 is a rear view of the movable jaw removed. Fig. 6 is asection taken on line 6 6, Fig. 5.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The stationary jaw or member comprises a U-shaped wire frame a, secured to whose side by means of folds c is a plate, the upper portion 6 of which is concavo-convex in horizontal section, whereby a deep recess or chamber is produced, as shown at b. This upper portion 6 is separated from the lower portion by an opening (Z, which is bounded by the straight horizontal lower edge of the portion 6, the vertical edges of the folds c, and the upper edge of the lower portion a of the said plate, said lower portion being formed with the downwardly-extending centrally-curved recess f, all as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The upper edge of the portion 6 of the plate is respectively, against the plate 6 and the movable jaw below described.

The movable jaw comprises two parts-a main portion and a sliding portion. The main portion consists of the plate k, hung from the lower portion of the loop 9 between the folds 0 by means of folds or ears Z6, which are disposed on opposite sides of the spring it. This plate is provided with a central longitudinal opening or slot Z, having parallel sides, and extends beyond the lower edge of the portion 6 of the stationary jaw, but not as far as the upper edge of the portion 0. Adapted to move longitudinally or vertically in this plate is by means of the opening Z is a slide, which comprises thesubstantially flat main portion m, the narrower downwardly-extending tongue at, the upward parallel extensions 0, formed by making parallel or longitudinal slits p in the portion m, and the upwardly-extending central spring portion t between the parts 0, provided with an outward bend or hump t, which serves as a stop, as below described. Moreover, rigid with and forming a part of the swinging jaw is a guiding-handle u,which extends up or outward therefrom through the opening Z and overlaps the opposite edges thereof, said handle extending through the tongue, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4:, and bending up against the inner surface of the tongue.

.9 represents a backing for the clasp, (not new in this invention,) and w a portion of a fabric or article of clothing.

When the clasp is closed and is in engagement with a piece of fabric, the parts are in the position indicated in Figs. 1, 2, and 4, the swinging jaw being held toward or against the portion of the fabric which lies in the depression or chamber Z by means of the slide or tongue, whose lower end a is pushed down behind or under the recessed portion of the part 6 of the stationary jaw, said part 0 being formed up, as shown in the first four figures, in order to allow the tongue to slide behind it.

' outside of said plate.

The tongue is held locked in this position by means of the'spring portion 6, which is held up between the upward extensions 0, its upper end abutting against the upper edge of the opening land its surface being flush with the surface of the plate 76. While in this position the tongue is held against the inner surface of the part 0 by means of the spring it. When the clasp is to be disengaged from the garment, the user presses upward the handle it, said pressure serving to press or swing inward a trifle the upper spring end 6 of the slide or tongue m. This causes the said end to disengage itself from the upper edge of the opening 6 and slip under-the plate is, its upward movement being limited by the outward bend or hump t, which strikes the upper edge of the opening Z and slips under the plate k. When the clasp is thus detached, the two ends 72/ of the spring h which bear against the plates 6 and k cause the swingingjaw to fly open into the position indicated in Fig. 3. Inasmuch as this swinging jaw consists of two parts, the lower of which slides by the upper, so that when the jaw has been detached the lower end of the tongue is higher and cannot come in contact with the plate a, this swinging jaw is not liable to shut over said plate ethat is to say, as the path of its lower end is above said plate the tongue will not overlap and fold upon the When the swinging jaw is closed upon a fabric, the slide must be pushed down by means of the handle a to lock the fabric in position.

By reason of the deep chamber 6 any ordinary thickness of fabric can be accommodated or any number of folds of comparatively thin fabric without choking up the clasp.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim. and desire to. secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a garmentsupporting clasp of the character described, the stationary jaw comprising the recessed or chambered plate d andthe oppositely and outwardly formed up lower portion 0 thereof; and the movable jaw swinging at its upper end from the corresponding end of the stationary jaw and comprisingthe upper plate k, and the slide on provided at its lower end with the tongue n and sliding longitudinally with relation to the plate is, said tongue being adapted to be moved under or behind said portion 0 and be therebyv brought into engagement with the stationary jaw.

2. In a garment-supporting clasp of the character described, a stationary jaw; a movable jaw whose upper end is adapted to swing from the corresponding end of the stationary jaw, said movable jaw comprising the plate is provided with the longitudinal opening Z, and the slide on provided at its lower end with the tongue n and at its upper end with the outer upwardly-extending parallel extensions 0 and the central spring portion tadapted when the clasp is open to slide behind the plate 6 and when it is closed to abut against the upper edge of said opening Z; and means on the stationary jaw for engaging said tongue.

3. In a garment-supporting clasp of the character described, a stationary jaw; a movable jaw whose upper end is adapted to swing from the corresponding end of the stationary jaw, said movable jaw comprising the plate provided with the longitudinal opening l, and the slide m provided at its lower end with the tongue n and at its upper end with the outer upwardly-extending parallel extensions 0 and the central spring portion 25 adapted when the clasp is open to slide behind the plate 7) and when it is closed to abut against the upper edge of said opening, said portion t being provided with the outward bend or hump t; and means on the stationary jaw for engaging said tongue.

4. In a garment-supporting clasp of the character described, a stationary jaw; a movable jaw whose upper end is adapted to swing from the corresponding end of the stationary jaw, said movablejaw comprising the plate is provided with the longitudinal opening Z, and the slide on provided at its lower end with the tongue n and at its upper end with the outer upwardly-extending parallel extensions 0 and the central spring portion t adapted when the clasp is open to slide behind the plate Z) and when it is closed to abut against the upper edge of said opening Z; the handle a extending through the opening Z and on opposite sidesof its edge across said plate 76, said handle extending through the slide m and doubling behind and against the inner side thereof; and means on the stationary jaw for en gaging said tongue.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES F. ATWOOD. Witnesses:

H. W. PARKER, Gno. W. PAUL. 

